Wednesday, March 20, 2013

UNBREAKABLE, the latest in Alison Kent's DALTON GANG series

Alison Kent has a lot of irons in the fire these days and I have to admit that it makes me one happy girl! Her Dalton Gang series started with UNDENIABLE and was followed up by UNBREAKABLE. I already had the Kindle version of UNBREAKABLE when Romance Junkies put it on their review list, so of course I immediately volunteered to review it! I can't stress enough what a fabulous, outstandingly kickass author I think Alison Kent is. I've loved her voice from the very beginning and never fail to feel the emotions of her characters deep down. Yes, I know I'm pouring it on rather thick, but I'm entitled to my opnion, right? If I were telling you this in person, I would be gesturing wildly and ending with my hands pressed into my chest. Okay, enough....Here's about UNBREAKABLE:THE DALTON BOYS ARE RIDING HARD…The notorious Dalton Gang once ran wild through their home town of Crow
Hill, Texas. Now they own the run-down Dalton Ranch—and they work hard to keep
it up. But when the right women come along, they still know how to play hard
too…Casper Jayne turned his back on Crow Hill nearly 20 years ago for a career in
the professional bull riding circuit. Now he’s back—and Faith Mitchell is having
a tough time thinking about anything else. She’s had a crush on him since high
school, when he was part of her brother’s gang—and off limits. Since then, Faith
has learned not to take risks. And Casper’s reckless, hard-living ways are
causing her to think twice about trying to make the fantasies she has for this
powerfully physical man come true.Casper said he’d wait for a sign—but Faith is determined not to give him the
satisfaction. Then an unexpected encounter finally penetrates her reserve, and
the two of them ignite an intense passion. Faith finds herself holding on for a
wild ride that breaks all the rules. But when the hot affair burns out of
control, Faith will have to learn to take the reins…

My (5 Blue Ribbon) Romance Junkies review:

Alison
Kent’s name on the cover of a book always serves as a guarantee of goodness for
any romance reader. She has gone above and beyond once again with UNBREAKABLE
and the DALTON GANGseries.

Casper
Jayne is one of the “Dalton Gang” that was introduced to readers in Alison
Kent’s October 2012 release, UNDENIABLE. Casper survived a severely neglectful
childhood. The only things that helped make it a tad brighter would be his
friends Dax Campbell and Boone Mitchell, and Tess and Dave Dalton, the Crow Hill, Texas ranching
couple that nurtured and helped guide the boys.Casper knew his life would have been
significantly different, and not in a good way, without them. When the Daltons
are both deceased, “the boys” find that they’ve left their struggling ranch to
them. With none of them tied down to anything or anyone, they decideto try to make a go of it.

When
Casper’s mother unexpectedly gives him her pitifully rundown monstrosity of a
house, he decides to make the necessary repairs, despite knowing that razing
the hulking mess makes far more sense. Full of frightening childhood memories,
one would wonder why Casper would want to step foot inside the house, let alone
invest time and money to restore it.

When
Casper shows up at the bank where Faith Mitchell works looking for money, he
doesn’t have high hopes that the sister of one of his best friends will come
through for him. Indeed, she turned him down for money from the bank
immediately. Faith has had a crush on Casper since they were kids and seeing
him again has her wanting. Her brother, Boone, practically put a sign around
her neck to warn Dax and Casper off his sister. Now adults, Casper and Faith
are free to see where their undeniable attraction goes. It leads them straight
to a blistering affair. Faith has a boatload of money from an undisclosed
source that she’s willing to loan to Casper, but he’s stubbornly reluctant to
partner with her. Once he relents the two begin to explore an even deeper
relationship.

Faith
has a big heart and is saved from being too sweet by a bit of attitude and her
ability to keep up with Casper’s touch of wildness. Underneath Casper’s
wildness is a man who is caring and whose emotions run deep. Secondary
characters, one in particular, add some of the most heartwarming scenes, show
what a good man Casper is, and are crucial to the story.

This
book isn’t all love and sweetness. Casper and Faith both have had ugliness in
their lives and secrets from their pasts. Casper can be brutally blunt at times
and while Faith sometimes feels the sharpness of his honesty, she knows that
deep down he’s so much more than a wicked mouth.

Alison
Kent can write relationships and honest emotion like no other author. She
delves right in to the painful realities that sometimes arise between family and friends. This book has my highest
recommendation, especially if you’re a reader who appreciates characters who
are a little broken, but fiercely loyal, and a story that will catch you right
in the chest. I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in the series, UNFORGETTABLE,
which will release in October2013.

I'll give a Kindle or Nook copy of UNDENIABLE to one commenter here. All you have to do is leave a comment, but of course I'd love it if you would share your favorite Alison Kent book, character, cover, whatever you wish. I'll pull the winning name on Sunday, March 24 (or thereabouts, you know I'm typically a day or so late). If you want to put your email address in your comment, it will be easy to let you know you've won, otherwise you need to be sure to check back. (If you've already read UNDENIABLE, I'll buy you a copy of UNBREAKABLE.)

About Me

I've been married for 34 years (yes, Hub robbed the cradle), have two beautiful daughters, 23 and 28. We have a basset hound, Simon, and three cats, Sophie, Tony and Penny. I work full-time as a legal assistant. I enjoy reading, baking and walking. I write book reviews for the online review site, Romance Junkies.

PLEASE NOTE . . .

It is the responsibility of anyone who enters a contest on my blog to stop back and find out if they're a winner. I will not attempt to track you down. If I don't hear from a winner within the number of days specified when the winner is announced, I will draw a new name.